Typical Course Schedule of First-Year First-Semester Natural Science Major Students

This typical course schedule is for students who wish to pursue: 

■ Biology

■ Chemistry

■ Neural Science

■ Physics

Course 1 Global Perspectives on Society (4 credits)

In this course, we will explore a set of timeless questions about how society is, or should be, organized, based on close examinations of diverse thinkers and writers from different times and different cultures. The questions raised in this course will engage the moral, social, and political foundations of human relationships, the principles according to which people assemble into societies of different scales, and the bases for interaction among societies in a world of accelerating interdependence. By engaging texts that explore these questions from multiple perspectives, students reflect on several overarching issues, including how different societies have organized their economic and political institutions, how those societies fashion both shared identities and hierarchies of difference, how people experience themselves as “individuals” or as members of a collectivity, how they experience both time and space, and how they engage with others both locally and globally. Over the semester, students develop skills that are central to a liberal arts education, including reading carefully and thoughtfully, considering questions from more than one perspective, participating in respectful and serious intellectual explorations of difficult topics, developing oral presentation skills, and writing essays that make effective and appropriate use of the ideas of others as they present the students’ own ideas to different audiences of readers. Each week, students will meet twice as an entire class for lectures and once in smaller recitation sections led by one of New York University Shanghai’s Global Postdoctoral Fellows. Students receive 4 credits for the lecture and recitation. 


Note: Special care and certain criteria go into the scheduling of your GPS recitation. Therefore, you will not be able to change your assignment.

Course 2 Math course (4 credits)

In order to take Biology, Neural Science, Chemistry or Physics, you must place into and enroll in either Calculus (MATH-SHU 131) or Honors Calculus (MATH-SHU 210). Your math placement level will be sent to you via email in late July. 

 

If you have not placed into Calculus, you must first take Precalculus (and pass with a grade of at least a “C”) and then move on to take the science courses below in your second year. In the meantime, for the first semester, you will follow the course plan of non-science major students. 

Course 3 - For Physics/Neural Science/Biology Major (5 credits)

Foundations of Physics I Honors & FoS Physics Laboratory (5 credits) OR General Physics I & FoS Physics Laboratory (5 credits)

 

The differences between Foundations of Physics I Honors and General Physics I: 
The Foundations of Physics I Honors class is rigorous and designed for students who have a strong science and mathematics background from high school.

 


You are recommended to take Foundations of Physics I Honors if:

  • You are thinking about possibly majoring in Physics.
  • You are looking for the more challenging course and/or you have a strong background in physics and math from high school.
  • Foundations of Physics 1 Honors moves at a faster pace than the General Physics 1 course and the subject matter is covered at a higher level.

Otherwise, you are recommended to take General Physics I.

 

 

Course 3 - For Chemistry Major (3 credits)

General Physics I (3 credits) OR Foundations of Physics I Honors (3 credits)

 


The differences between Foundations of Physics I Honors and General Physics I: 
The Foundations of Physics I Honors class is rigorous and designed for students who have a strong science and mathematics background from high school.

 


You are recommended to take Foundations of Physics I Honors if:

  • You are thinking about possibly majoring in Physics.
  • You are looking for the more challenging course and/or you have a strong background in physics and math from high school.
  • Foundations of Physics 1 Honors moves at a faster pace than the General Physics 1 course and the subject matter is covered at a higher level.

Otherwise, you are recommended to take General Physics I.

Course 4 - For Physics/Neural Science/Biology Major (3 credits)

Foundations of Chemistry I (3 credits)

 

The Foundations of Chemistry I class is rigorous and designed for students who have a strong science and mathematics background from high school. If you do not feel comfortable with taking both Physics and Chemistry in your first semester, you should contact shanghai.advising@nyu.edu to discuss alternative options.

Course 4 - For Chemistry Major (5 credits)

Foundations of Chemistry I AND FoS Chemistry Laboratory (5 credits)

 

The Foundations of Chemistry I class is rigorous and designed for students who have a strong science and mathematics background from high school. If you do not feel comfortable with taking both Physics and Chemistry in your first semester, you should contact shanghai.advising@nyu.edu to discuss alternative options.

Course 5 Language Course (2 credits, optional but strongly recommended for International Students / required for Chinese Students)

For International Students:


These are optional Chinese courses for beginners that are 2-credits instead of 4-credits and cover half of the content of the regular 4-credit courses. If you take one of these 2-credit courses in the fall semester, you will be able to finish the second half of the content in the spring semester, also in a 2-credit course. More information about the Chinese placement exam and courses can be found here.


For Chinese Students:


All domestic Chinese students are required to take the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Seminar course. If you take one of these 2-credit courses in the fall semester, you will be able to finish the second half of the content in the spring semester, also in a 2-credit course. More information about the EAP Seminar can be found here.